Mounting Structures for Portable Electronic Devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020274956-A1
Application number	US-202016842590-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 7, 2020
Priority date	Apr 1, 2008
Publication date	Aug 27, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A portable electronic device such as a handheld electronic device is provided. The device may have upper and lower portions. The upper portion may have clips that attach to springs on the lower portion. The device may have a housing with a bezel. A prong on the springs may ground the bezel. A vibrator mounting bracket may hold a vibrator in place within the housing. The vibrator mounting bracket may have an end that engages the housing. A threaded insert may be welded to the spring. A screw that passes through a hole in the vibrator mounting bracket may be screwed into the threaded insert to attach the vibrator to the housing. An elastomeric member may bias the vibrator towards the bracket. An acoustic module may serve as a subassembly for the device. Components such as an antenna, dock connector, microphone, and speaker may be attached to the acoustic module.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A portable electronic device comprising:
a display; a cover glass positioned over the display; a first audio component; a second audio component; and a housing enclosing the display, the first audio component, and the second audio component, the housing having a sidewall defining:
an electrical port configured to receive an electrical connector;
a first audio port positioned along a first side of the electrical port and operably coupled to the first audio component; and
a second audio port positioned along a second side of the electrical port, opposite to the first side, the second audio port operably coupled to the second audio component.

22 . The portable electronic device of claim 21 , wherein:
the portable electronic device further comprises a speaker enclosure positioned within the housing; the first audio component includes a speaker positioned within the speaker enclosure; and the second audio component includes a microphone assembly that is attached to the speaker enclosure.

23 . The portable electronic device of claim 22 , wherein the portable electronic device further comprises a silicone boot positioned between the microphone assembly and the housing to form an environmental seal preventing ingress of foreign material into the housing.

24 . The portable electronic device of claim 23 , wherein the silicone boot defines an opening configured to pass sound to the microphone assembly.

25 . The portable electronic device of claim 22 , wherein:
the speaker enclosure is formed from a molded plastic component; and the speaker enclosure defines an acoustic opening and is otherwise sealed.

26 . The portable electronic device of claim 22 , wherein:
the portable electronic device comprises a metal mesh positioned behind the first audio port; and the portable electronic device comprises an acoustic polymer mesh positioned between the metal mesh and the speaker enclosure.

27 . The portable electronic device of claim 22 , wherein:
the portable electronic device further comprises an electrical receiving connector that is aligned with the electrical port; the electrical receiving connector is configured to electrically couple to the electrical connector to receive electrical power and data from a separate electronic device; and the electrical receiving connector is attached to the speaker enclosure.

28 . The portable electronic device of claim 21 , wherein:
the cover glass defines a third audio port along a front surface of the portable electronic device; and the portable electronic device further comprises a speaker aligned with the third audio port defined in the cover glass.

29 . An electronic device comprising:
a housing defining a first audio port, a second audio port, and an electrical port positioned between the first audio port and the second audio port; a display assembly coupled to the housing and comprising:
a display:
a cover glass positioned over the display; and
a frame coupled to the cover glass;
a first audio component positioned within the housing and acoustically coupled to the first audio port; a second audio component positioned within the housing and acoustically coupled to the second audio port; and an electrical connector positioned within the housing and aligned with the electrical port.

30 . The electronic device of claim 29 , wherein:
the electronic device further comprises a speaker enclosure defining an opening that is acoustically coupled to the first audio port; the first audio component is a speaker; and the speaker is positioned within the speaker enclosure.

31 . The electronic device of claim 30 , wherein:
the second audio component comprises a microphone; the microphone is attached to the speaker enclosure; and the electronic device further comprises a flexible boot positioned between the microphone and the second audio port.

32 . The electronic device of claim 30 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a polymer acoustic mesh positioned between the first audio port and the speaker enclosure.

33 . The electronic device of claim 30 , wherein:
the speaker enclosure includes a polymer component that defines a sealed volume; and the speaker is positioned within the sealed volume.

34 . The electronic device of claim 29 , wherein:
the display assembly is coupled to the housing by a set of threaded fasteners and a set of clips; the housing defines a first hole for receiving a first threaded fastener of the set of threaded fasteners; the first hole is positioned between the first audio port and the electrical port; the housing defines a second hole for receiving a second threaded fastener of the set of threaded fasteners; and the second hole is positioned between the second audio port and the electrical port.

35 . The electronic device of claim 34 , wherein the set of clips is arranged along opposite sides of the display assembly.

36 . A mobile phone comprising:
a housing defining a first audio port, a second audio port, and an electrical port positioned between the first and second audio ports, the first audio port, the second audio port, and the electrical port positioned along a bottom portion of the housing; a display assembly coupled to the housing; a speaker assembly positioned within the housing and acoustically coupled to the first audio port; and a microphone assembly positioned within the housing and acoustically coupled to the second audio port.

37 . The mobile phone of claim 36 , wherein:
the speaker assembly comprises:
a sealed plastic enclosure coupled to the housing;
a speaker positioned within the sealed plastic enclosure; and
an acoustic mesh positioned between the sealed plastic enclosure and the first audio port.

38 . The mobile phone of claim 37 , wherein the microphone assembly is attached to the sealed plastic enclosure of the speaker assembly.

39 . The mobile phone of claim 36 , wherein:
the display assembly comprises:
a display;
a cover positioned over the display; and
a frame defining a first attachment feature configured to receive a first threaded fastener and defining a second attachment feature configured to receive a second threaded fastener.

40 . The mobile phone of claim 39 , wherein:
the housing defines a first hole along the bottom portion of the housing between the first audio port and the electrical port; the first hole is configured to receive the first threaded fastener; the housing defines a second hole along the bottom portion of the housing between the second audio port and the electrical port; and the second hole is configured to receive the second threaded fastener.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Mittleman Adam D
• Jenks Kenneth A
• Cheng Karen Y

Classifications

• H04M1/0202

  Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03) · CPC title

• H04M1/026 Primary

  Details of the structure or mounting of specific components · CPC title